Friday, March 10, 2017

Let's Talk About the Distractions

On March 8, 1977 The Isley Brothers released their fifteenth album, Go For Your Guns. By now the first family of funk has found a formula, relying on a 50/50 mix of upbeat danceable funk and Ron Isley ballads. In this case, the highly sampled ballad "Footsteps in the Dark" is the most memorable song. Though never released as a single, it was featured in Ice Cube's 1993 rap hit "It Was a Good Day". Usher also sampled the tune.

Some critics lost patience with the Isley Brothers formula. Among them, Robert Christgau who wrote

By the time the competent enough first side was over, I felt completely fed up with their mellifluous bullshit, especially since I'd noticed the title "Voyage to Atlantis" on side two. But that disaster excepted side two is the most hard-edged they've recorded since moving T-Neck to CBS in 1973. Needless to say, the one about "Climbin' Up the Ladder" is even more passionate than the one about "Livin' the Life." Nor is it surprising that the title tune has no lyrics at all. There's no riot goin' on. B.

1 comment:

Wasn't a big fan of " Go For Your Guns", but "Footsteps in the Dark" is one of my favourite Isley Brothers songs. After "Harvest For The World", I wasn't blown away by Isley Bros albums but each one seemed to have at least one standout track.

David Bowie : Heroes [Purchase] On September 23, 1977 David Bowie released the greatest single of the year, "Heroes"...

Remembering Charles Bradley

Soul Singer

The surly blogger in 1977

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